Today’s quick review: Men in Black: International. Molly Wright (Tessa Thompson) has spent her life trying to prove the existence of the Men in Black, a secret organization that polices alien life on Earth. When she finally succeeds, she earns a job offer, a trip to London, and a chance to prove herself by working with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth), a reckless hotshot, on a special assignment for the head of the London branch, High T (Liam Neeson).
Men in Black: International is a sci-fi action comedy. The movie revisits the world of Men in Black with a new recruit, a new city, and a new threat to the planet. Men in Black: International continues the series tradition of goofy aliens and imaginative sci-fi adventure. Consistent humor, a decent plot, and good chemistry between the leads are enough to make the movie a fun popcorn watch, but not enough to make it memorable or groundbreaking.
Men in Black: International gets much of its energy from the pairing of Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth. Thompson stars as Agent M, a capable rookie who’s still learning the ropes, while Hemsworth plays opposite her as Agent H, a veteran with a lax style that lands him in trouble. The two balance each other nicely, and while they aren’t as sharp of a pairing as the best comedic duos, thier banter is the film’s most reliable source of comedy.
The plot fits right in with the other movies in the series. After an attempt on the life of an alien VIP, M and H must track down the assassins, keep a dangerous weapon out of the wrong hands, and investigate a potential mole within the Men in Black. The plot can be predictable at times, but there’s enough variety to keep things interesting. The film makes incremental additions to the Men in Black universe without changing the status quo too much.
Men in Black: International’s main weakness is that it plays things too safe. Those familiar with the series will simply be getting more of the same, albeit with a new cast and a reset on the series’ running gags. That puts the film in direct competition with its predecessors, especially the original Men in Black, which has the advantages of a fresher world and a sharper comedic duo and works harder to sell its jokes, its story, and its premise.
Watch Men in Black: International when you’re looking for something breezy and fun, with a good mixture of comedy and action. How much you get out ouf the film will depend heavily on how much you like its lead duo, which means that there’s a risk of the film missing the mark completely if the chemistry doesn’t connect. Those looking for entertainment may want to give it a shot. Those looking to be impressed should skip it.
For a better take on the same premise, try the original Men in Black. For fantasy action with a similar setup and a slightly darker tone, try the Hellboy franchise.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a decent laughs and a smattering of action hurt by a lack of innovation.